It's five days away from a deadline
a judge has to release a statewide
grand jury report into six Catholic
dioceses.
The report lists allegations of sexual
abuse against at least 300 of what
the court has labeled predator priests
across Pennsylvania.
The report will come two and a half
years after a 147-page grand jury report
uncovered widespread sex abuse within
the Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese.
"My bet is that it is going to be very
similar to report we saw concerning the
Altoona-Johnstown diocese," said Michael
Parrish, partner at Spence Custer LLC.
Parrish talked to US Thursday about what
he believed could be expected from the
pending report.
"Many of the claims referenced in the report
are going to be very, very old claims.
The statute of limitations is probably
going to be an issue with respect to any
civil claims that might be made related to
those things being identified in that
report," said Parrish.
Parrish represented 40 alleged victims at
Bishop McCort Catholic High School who
said they were abused by an athletic trainer
in the '90s and early 2000s.
Parrish said as the law stands now, the
statute of limitations expires for any victim
over 30 years old.
"That's part two of the report coming out.
I think it's going to likely bring that issue
back to the forefront,We're going to see
discussions again at the legislative level
about Should we modify the statute of
limitations Should that law be changed The
last time the report came out, with respect
to the Altoona-Johnstown diocese, we saw a
lot of activity in that regard and I think
we'll probably see it again."
Parrish said the report will also be a message
to those involved in the alleged sexual abuse.
"From my standpoint, I think its important
to send another message that, you know, these
things are not going to be tolerated, people
who either engaged in it or helped cover it
up are going to be held responsible,"
said Parrish.